Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 2: Article 370 is a thorn in Indian polity. It is discriminatory and divides the people on communal basis and breeds psychological barriers on regional lines so this Article must go as per the basics of the Constitution.
These observations were made in a statement by the former Union Minister, Prof. Chaman Lal Gupta while commenting upon the on going controversy over the much debated provision which still persists in the statue book even after expiry of about 67 years although it was adopted as “temporary” provision.
He alleged that those who are still pleading for its retention are guided by communal consideration although many of them still claim to be secular and protagonists of humanity.
Prof Gupta recalled that when this obnoxious provision was being adopted the then Prime Minister, Jawahar Lal Nehru had assured Moulana Hasrat Mohani and other agitated nationalists that this temporary measure would wither away with the passage of the time. But the time has proved that wrong and visionary Pandit Prem Nath Dogra was right who had voiced a note of caution by saying that it was not difficult to opt an evil but to get rid of it is not an easy task.
He asked the scions of Nehru and his follower in the Congress to explain that why they are failing to keep up the assurances of their leader and why they are sailing with those who are harping for autonomy and crying for Azadi and encouraging secessionism.
Prof Gupta asserted that Article 370 has harmed more than any good to the people on any account. The State is lagging behind on many accounts especially the industrial sector. Moreover encouraging secessionism and fanatic tendencies, he maintained and observed that those who are opposing abrogation of Article 370 cannot be the friends of India and that of the people.
Prof Gupta said that legally and constitutionally J&K is integral and irrevocable part of India and it must be treated as such especially by those who are under oath of the Constitution.
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